Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
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This week, we invite you:
** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Office Closure
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Please note that our Congregational Administrator, Debra Damiani, will be away from the office from Monday, August 7 through Thursday, August 10, and will return on Monday, August 14. You may contact board@uusmc.org (mailto:board@uusmc.org) with any urgent issues during this absence.
** Summer Campfire this Saturday Evening
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Join us for a sing-along at this Saturday’s campfire starting at 7:30 pm in the Memorial Grove. Try out the new benches and bring a favorite song or two to share. We can get lyrics from our phones, and we can use YouTube clips, too. We don’t have enough benches for everyone so please bring a lawn chair and/or blanket. Kids and friends are always welcome! Should be a beautiful night for a campfire.
Contact Jamie Kegerise (mailto:Jamie.NewarkCoho@gmail.com?subject=summer%20campfire) with questions.
** School Supplies Drive
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Now Through Sunday, August 27th
Our School Supplies Drive, a Mill Creek annual tradition, is kicking off this Sunday with our support of a local K-5 school — Etta J. Wilson Elementary School (https://www.christinak12.org/WilsonES) in Christina School District. We have been in contact with the school and Principal Boutte expressed her gratitude in our support of fulfilling this need.
In previous years we included backpacks in this project; we asked the congregation to take one and return it filled with the items on the included supply list broken down by grade.
This year we are focusing solely on providing the supplies needed for each grade at the school. This way, participants may buy whatever items they choose from the list which is categorized by grade. Click the button below for the complete list. Printed copies will be available in the gathering space.
We will begin collecting the supplies this Sunday, August 6 and continue through Sunday, August 27.
Complete supplies list – CLICK HERE (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Supply-List-2023-24-Grades-1-5.pdf)
** Current Share Our Plate Recipient
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We regularly donate a portion of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization. For the months of July and August we are supporting:
Unitarian Universalist Delaware Advocacy Network (UUDAN)
UUDAN brings together the five Delaware UU congregations to engage in legislative action in the state of Delaware. Their mission is to inform, recruit and mobilize UU advocates to work, in partnership with other advocacy organizations, for the many social justice issues we face today. It provides a vehicle to research and draft legislation and lobby for reform measures in Dover.
Learn more about UUDAN here (http://www.uudeladvo.org/wp/sample-page/)
Support this organization with your online donation HERE. Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund. (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give)
Thank you for your support!
** Sunday Worship Service Information
August 6, 2023
10:30 am
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Join us this Sunday when Helen Foss shares her message,
Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
Come learn the story of the Green Circle program in Delaware – how we helped thousands of Delaware children build a sense of empathy for and affinity with others, the role Green Circle played in New Castle County’s desegregation and prompted the Delaware Region National Conference of Christians and Jews’ (NCCJ) study of the psychology of prejudice. And, it is all aligned with our UU First Principle.
Music for the morning will be performed by musician, composer and guitarist Kevin Cope. The hymns will be played by Aaron McCloskey.
Connect With Us In-Person
* Service begins at 10:30 am
* Children’s RE programming is available for ages 4 and up
* We are currently unable to offer Child Care (infant/toddler, ages 0 to 3)
Connect With Us Virtually
Here’s how to get the Zoom link for livestreaming the service:
* Click the link below: Sunday Livestream (bookmark it on your preferred device for quick & easy access on Sunday morning), OR
* Get the link by accessing the church calendar (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=a404d3fb3e&e=9e32ea5753) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/ (https://uusmc.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c80a09d53a8aec43de675d26&id=3386b49cce&e=9e32ea5753) )
Sunday Livestream – CLICK HERE (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
Realm is our church management software program. We use it exclusively for accounting, pledge data, membership, registration events, and more. Use the button below to access your Realm profile to make sure we have your most recent contact information, and make pledge payments and contributions.
Access your Realm profile HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/SignIn)
Fun fact: you can use Realm to set up recurring online monthly pledge payments using a credit card or your checking or savings account!
Mill Creek Staff
Rev. Christian Schmidt, Minister
In Office: Sundays & Tuesdays
minister@uusmc.org (mailto:minister@uusmc.org)
979-450-2477 (cell)
To request an in-person, teleconference, or Zoom meeting with Rev. Christian, use the link below to schedule:
Schedule an Appointment with Rev. Christian – Click HERE (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ1ETx17XToDEx3GC5293hfnHTj-VJpBMu_m7SpHkuCcHozb-ceUiT3H-hDGLbziPku9hYBquodp)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 9 am to 2 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
** Happening in Our Local Community
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** City of Newark School Uniform Drive Continues
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The city of Newark is collecting school uniform items in support of five schools in the Newark area.
Many schools in the state of Delaware follow a similar school uniform policy: solid color polo shirt and khaki pants. This additional expense can become a hardship for families, and the consequences of not adhering to the dress code policy can be detrimental to students. Here’s how you can help.
What is needed:
* new or gently used uniform items in ALL SIZES, from youth size 5T to adult size XL
* solid color short or long-sleeved polo shirts – NO logos or slogans – ALL colors acceptable
* solid color long pants in khaki or navy
Drop Off Location:
Newark United Methodist Church Welcome Center
62 E. Delaware Avenue
Newark, Delaware
Monday – Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
302-368-8774
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** Delmarva Cluster* Family Day this Saturday
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Spend a summer day with your family along with other UU’s in the Delmarva region at the beautiful Killens Pond State Park located south of the town of Felton in Kent County, Delaware. This is a fun and relaxed way to reconnect with folks you may already know – or take the opportunity to meet some new ones.
DETAILS:
Saturday, August 5^th – 8:00 am to Sunset
Killens Pond State Park
2025 Killens Pond Road
Reserved Pavilion 2
Felton, Delaware
(15 miles south of Dover on Rt. 13)
Park Admission:
$4 per vehicle, in-state; $8 per vehicle out-of-state
Free for those with annual DE State Parks pass
Learn more about Killens Pond State Park HERE (https://destateparks.com/PondsRivers/KillensPond)
Pavilion 2 is reserved for our group for the entire day. It is a covered area with plenty of room for all; includes tables and a large charcoal grill. Bring a cooler with enough picnic foods & drinks for your family.
Things to do: visit the park’s nature center; fish from the Spillway; walk the park’s plentiful trails; enjoy the pond on a kayak, canoe or paddle boat; or visit the Water Park** (requires tickets/reservations – see below for more info).
**Visit the Water Park! Two Sessions are available by reservation:10 am – 2 pm; 2:30pm – 6:30pm. Use the link below for more information.
Water Park: details & reservations HERE (https://destateparks.com/WaterPark)
If you have additional questions or need more specific information, contact event coordinator Mac Goeckler here. (mailto:demonaffairs@uussd.org?subject=Delmarva%20Cluster%20Family%20Day)
*What is the Delmarva UU Cluster?
The unitarian Universalist Association (UUA (https://www.uua.org/) ) has established areas or regions within the association for organizational purposes. Mill Creek is included in the Central East Region (CER (https://www.uua.org/central-east) ). This region is the largest within the UUA and includes over 34,000 members. Within our region there are 22 clusters, or about 200 UU congregations. We are one of eight congregations making up the Delmarva Cluster.
https://www.uua.org/central-east
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Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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AUGUST 2023
The 1000+ Unitarian Universalist congregations in North America are grouped into 5 regions: Pacific Western, MidAmerica, Southern, Central East, and New England. The Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek (UUSMC) is part of the Central East Region. To learn more about what’s happening in our region, click the button below.
This month: Board Training Resources, Leadership Skill Ups, and more.
Opportunities for Connection – click here to learn more (https://uua874.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=177540c7bcb8db31697b601642eac8d4.6191&s=8983449a6b0e04757c2c9729fa49f044)